Studying In-Store Marketing of Healthy Food

Description: From November 2010 through October 2012, the Food Trust, a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based nonprofit, partnered with the University of Pennsylvania, Temple University, and two grocery retail chains in Philadelphia to pilot-test a number of in-store marketing interventions to increase the sales of healthier items. The study focused on five product categories, including milk, frozen entrees, cereal, in-aisle beverages and cooler case beverages.

The project team worked with eight supermarkets located in low-income, ethnically diverse Philadelphia neighborhoods.

Key Findings

Among the key findings published in an article in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition were the following:

Changes of placement and product availability significantly increased the amount of healthier milk purchased by consumers.

Consumers purchased more water products from aisles and checkout cooler locations in stores with intervention strategies.